Dryshaver with removable long-hair cutter assembly

ABSTRACT

A housing of a dryshaver has a short-hair cutter mounted in it. It further comprises a long-hair trimming unit which is constructed as a unitary assembly and includes a support, a stationary and a cooperating movable trimmer blade, mounting means mounting the blades on the support and guiding the movable trimmer blade for movement relative to the stationary trimmer blade, and biasing springs which bias the trimmer blades into engagement. Screws or other securing means detachably secure the trimming unit to the housing means so that it can be secured thereto and removed therefrom as a unit, rather than in form of its individual components.

United States Patent 91 Voigt et al.

1 DRYSHAVER WHTH REMOVABLE LONG-HAIR CUTTER ASSEMBLY [75] Inventors: Gunter Voigt, Schonberg, Taunus;

Norbert Metzler, Schwalbach, Tanus; Jurgen Golob, Friedrichsdorf, Tanus, all of Germany [73] Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft, Frankfurt,

Germany [22] Filed: Apr. 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 136,320

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Futterer ..30/34.l X Bruck ..30/222 [4 1 May 1, 1973 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,004,520 3/1957 Germany ..30/34.l

Primary Examiner0thel1 M. Simpson Assistant ExaminerCiary L. Smith AttorneyMichae1 S. Striker 5 7 ABSTRACT A housing of a dryshaver has a short-hair cutter mounted in it. It further comprises a long-hair trimming unit which is constructed as a unitary assembly and includes a support, a stationary and a cooperating movable trimmer blade, mounting means mounting the blades on the support and guiding the movable trimmer blade for movement relative to the stationary trimmer blade, and biasing springs which bias the trimmer blades into engagement. Screws or other securing means detachably secure the trimming unit to the housing means so that it can be secured thereto and removed therefrom as a unit, rather than in form of its individual components.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented May 1, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor a TUWM mm! I 1 16 M Z awn 6 W I Ila/ DRYSHAVER WITH REMOVABLE LONG-HAIR CUTTER ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a dryshaver construction, and more particularly to an improved dryshaver having a long-hair trimming unit.

The construction of dryshavers is too well known to require detailed discussion. Generally speaking they are electrically operated and they all have a short-hair cutting device, that is a device for cutting beard stub ble. Many of these of these apparatuses also have a long-hair trimmer device with which the longer hair on sideburns, mustaches, beards and the like can be trimmed to keep it neat. These long-hair trimming devices basically consist of a stationary trimmer blade, or shearcomb, and a toothed movable trimmer blade or movable shearblade which is biased into engagement with the stationary blade.

According to the art heretofore existing, the in dividual components of the long-hair trimming devices are individually mounted in the dryshaver. They are thus for instance connected to the housing of the dryshaver, or to another component of the apparatus, by screws, rivets or the like, and as already pointed out they are individually assembled to the housing. This has been found to be less than satisfactory because a proper trimming effect can be obtained only if both the stationary and the movable blade engage one another over their entire length in intimate contact and with specific pressure which should be as uniform as possible. This cannot be achieved when the individual components are separately assembled to the dryshaver as is known from the prior art, and particularly if they are secured by means of screws which are passed through the stationary shearblade or trimmer blade as is also known from the art locally uneven stresses and pressures cannot be avoided with the result that high quantities of rejects particularly in mass-production are obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dryshaver construction which is not possessed of these disadvantages.

Still more particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dryshaver which is provided with a long-hair trimming unit, that is with a trimming device which can be connected to and disconnected from the remainder of the dryshaver as a unit rather than in form of its individual constituent components.

In pursuance of the above objects, and of others which will become apparent hereafter, including the object of making the assembly of the trimmer unit to and its disassembly from the remainder of the dryshaver as simple as possible, the novel invention comprises, according to one aspect, a dryshaver having housing means and short-hair cutting means provided on the housing means. There is further provided a longhair trimming unit which includes a support, a stationary and a cooperating movable trimmer blade, mounting means mounting the blades on the support and guiding the movable trimmer blade for movement with reference to the stationary trimmer blade, and biasing means which biases the trimmer blades into engagement with one another. Finally, we provide securing means which detachably secures the trimming unit in toto to the housing means.

In this manner, the constituent components of the trimming unit can be assembled to form the trimming unit and the latter can be pretested as to proper assembly and proper operation before it is secured in toto to the dryshaver. Evidently, such assembly and pretesting are greatly facilitated as compared to the conventional manner of assembling the constituent components of the trimming device individually to the dryshaver housing, because the assembly and the pretesting do not run into interference resulting from the presence of the other components of the dryshaver.

It is advantageous although not necessary that the securing means which secure the unit in toto to the remainder of the dryshaver be located beneath the general plane of the blades (the term beneath here refers to the normal operational position of the dryshaver) and extend at least approximately parallel to this plane. This avoids the exertion of undesirable stresses in and on the blades and thus eliminates a major source of difficulties caused in the prior art by the securing means securing the blades in place.

It is also advantageous to provide stationary trimmer blade with a flange portion which is the portion securing it to the support. In this manner, the development of undesirable stresses in the blades is also counteracted when the securing means are located as described above.

According to a further embodiment of the invention it is advantageous that the mounting and guide means be provided in form of one, two or more projections which extend upwardly (again as seen with respect to the normal operational position of the dryshaver) from the support of the trimming unit, with the movable trimmer blade being provided with one or more longitudinally extending slots that is slot which extend in the direction of its movement into which the projections extend to perform a retaining and guiding function. The projections may be separate components which are secured as for instance by being embeddded to the support, but they can also be made removable therefrom or they can of one-piece therewith. Particularly when the support is of synthetic plastic material, which is another advantageous feature of the present invention, it is preferable that the projections be rather of one-piece with it or else be at least non-removably secured to it as by being in part embedded in it.

In order to prevent undesirable seizing of the cutter blade or trimmer blade, if for instance the movable blade becomes somewhat inclined, it is preferable that the projections be provided with a head which engages in the slots and it will be appreciated that the heads either can be assembled separately to the projections or can be made of one-piece with them.

It is also advantageous according to still another concept of the invention, to provide a glide member or strip of low-friction material which is positioned between that side of the removable blade which faces away from the stationary blade and the biasing springs or other means which are provided to bear against this particular side and to thereby urge the other side of the movable blade into engagement with the stationary blade. The interposition of this low-friction glide element reduces friction and tensions on the movable blade, and guarantees a uniform specific pressure exerted by the movable plate against the stationary blade at low friction.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevation through a dryshaver embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the trimming unit of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line IIIIII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line IVIV of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail view analogous to FIG. 3, but illustrating a further embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing in detail, and firstly the embodiment which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 4, it will be seen that in FIG. 1 we have illustrated only the upper portion of a dryshaver. Evidently such dryshaver will have drive means, such as an electric motor or the like, which will be located in conventional manner in the interior of a housing 1. However, the housing 1 is shown only fragmentarily and the drive means is not illustrated because it does not form a part of the: present invention and is not necessary for an understanding thereof.

At the upper portion of the housing 1 there is provided a frame, a so-called shearhead frame 2 which is upwardly open and is secured to the housing 1. Secured in the frame 2 is a shearfoil 3, which is in form of apertured sheet metal or the like and is mounted by means bolts 4 this all being entirely conventional. Reference numeral 5 identifies the swing or oscillatory arm 5 of the non-illustrated drive, and this motion-transmitting component is also known from the art. At the end 6 of the arm 5 there is provided a short-hair cutter head or shearhead 7 which is pressed against the interior side of the shearfoil 3 by means ofa spring 8. Thus far the illustrated and described construction is conventional.

The shearhead frame 2 is provided with an opening or cutout 9 and there is mounted along one side thereof a long-hair trimming unit 10 which is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2 4. Basically, the unit 10 is composed of a stationary shearblade l1, and a toothed movable shearblade 12 which is located beneath it and is reciprocable with reference to it. The necessary motion is imparted to the blade 12 by means of the arm 5 which transmits motion to an arm 14, with the latter in turn acting upon a bifurcated member 13 which is connected with the shearblade 12.

It is the essence of the present invention that the unit 10 be a self-contained unit, that is that it can be assem bled to and removed from the housing 1, of which the frame 2 is in effect an extension as a complete assembly, that is in toto. To make this possible the unit 10 utilizes a support 15 which has a plurality of functions. The stationary blade 1 l is provided with a flange portion 16 which, as shown in FIG. 1, extends over the entire width of the unit 10, and which is connected to the support 15 beneath the general plane of the blades 11 and 12 by means of two rivets 17 which extend approximately parallel to the plane. Of course, other securing means in place of the rivets could also be utilized.

That side of the support 15 which faces the blades 1 1 and 12 .is provided with mounting and guide means here illustrated in form of two bolts or projections 18 and 19, which are shown to be unitary with the remainder of the support 15 but which could be pressfitted or threaded into suitable apertures of the support 15. Such a modified embodiment, which otherwise corresponds to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 4 is shown in FIG. 5. The blade 12 is provided with elongated slotlike openings 20, as shown in FIG. 2, extending in the direction of reciprocation of the blade 12 and the projections 18 and 19 extend into these openings and thus guide the blades 12 for movement. To prevent undesirable seizing of the projections 18 and 19 in the openings 20, the projections may be provided as also shown in the modified embodiment of FIG. 5 with heads 18a. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the shaft 18!; of the projections is suitably secured in the support 15.

In both embodiments the support 15 is also provided with depressions 21, 22 and 23, which serve as abutments for three biasing springs 24, 25 and 26 which bear upon the underside of the blade 12 to urge the same into abutting contact with the stationary blade 1 1. Located between the free ends of the springs 24, 25 and 26 and the underside of the blade 12 is a glide element 27 of a low-friction material, such as suitable synthetic plastic. The purpose of this element 27 is to guarantee a uniform specific pressure of the blade 12 against the blade 11 over the entire length of both blades. It is of course necessary to prevent displacement of the element 27 out of its selected position, for this purpose the element 27 is provided with projections 28, 29 and 30 which cooperate with the springs 24, 25 and 26, respectively, to retain it in place on and by the aid of these springs. It should be pointed out that although the springs 24-26 are illustrated as helical springs, it will also be possible to utilize other springs, for instance leaf springs, in place of the three illustrated springs to use for instance two or even a single elongated wire or leaf spring.

The blades 11 and 12 are each provided with teeth 11a and which serve to support the blades 11 and 12 at one side, whereas at the opposite or rear side projections 12b at the upper side of the blade 12 engage the blade 11 to support the blades with respect to each other.

The construction according to the present invention, whether it be the embodiment in FIGS. 1 4, or that in FIG. 5, permits the provision of the trimmer unit 10 as a unitary assembly which can be of very small dimensions, which can be preassembled and pretested and which can be readily mounted to and demounted from the remainder of the dryshaver by means of securing means provided for this purpose such as screws 4 which pass through apertures 32 and 33 in the flange portion 16 and also serve to hold the shearfoil 3 in place. Thus, the unit can be very simply and readily secured on the inner side of the frame 2, covered so as not to be ex posed to damage and also to improve the aesthetic appearance of the dryshaver, the covered mounting being evident from FIG. 1.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a dryshaver, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a dryshaver, in combination, housing means; short-hair cutting means on said housing means; a longhair trimming unit including a stationary trimmer blade having an elongated first blade portion and a flange portion which extends along said blade portion at an angle relative thereto, a cooperating movable trimmer blade having an elongated second blade portion juxtaposed and in contact with said first blade portion and having longitudinally extending slot means, a support of synthetic plastic material at a side of said second blade portion adjacent said flange portion but remote from said first blade portion and having guide projections extending into said slot means, mounting means extending substantially parallel to said blade portions and fixedly mounting said support on said flange portion, and biasing means biasing said blade portions into engagement with one another; and securing means also extending substantially parallel to said blade portions and detachably securing said flange portion, and thereby said unit, to said biasing means.

2. In a dryshaver as defined in claim 1, said second blade portion having one side abutting said first blade portion, and another side, and wherein said biasing means comprise biasing springs each having one end portion bearing against said support and a free end portion tending to bear against said other side of said second blade portion; and further comprising a glide element of low-friction material interposed between said other side and said free end portions for reducing friction between them and facilitating movement of said movable trimmer blade with reference to said stationary trimmer blade.

. In a dryshaver as defined in claim 1, wherein said biasing means comprises helical springs each mounting one of said projections and having axially spaced ends bearing upon said second blade portion and said support, respectively.

4. In a dryshaver as defined in claim 1, said projections comprising at least two spaced projections, and said slot means comprising at least one slot into which said projections extend.

5. In a dryshaver as defined in claim 1, said projections having heads which extend into said slot means.

6. In a dryshaver as defined in claim 1, wherein said projections are of one piece with said support. 

1. In a dryshaver, in combination, housing means; short-hair cutting means on said housing means; a long-hair trimming unit including a stationary trimmer blade having an elongated first blade portion and a flange portion which extends along said blade portion at an angle relative thereto, a cooperating movable trimmer blade having an elongated second blade portion juxtaposed and in contact with said first blade portion and having longitudinally extending slot means, a support of synthetic plastic material at a side of said second blade portion adjacent said flange portion but remote from said first blade portion and having guide projections extending into said slot means, mounting means extending substantially parallel to said blade portions and fixedly mounting said support on said flange portion, and biasing means biasing said blade portions into engagement with one another; and securing means also extending substantially parallel to said blade portions and detachably securing said flange portion, and thereby said unit, to said biasing means.
 2. In a dryshaver as defined in claim 1, said second blade portion having one side abutting said first blade portion, and another side, and wherein said biasing means comprise biasing springs each having one end portion bearing against said support and a free end portion tending to bear against said other side of said second blade portion; and further comprising a glide element of low-friction material interposed between said other side and said free end portions for reducing friction between them and facilitating movement of said movable trimmer blade with reference to said stationary trimmer blade.
 3. In a dryshaver as defined in claim 1, wherein said biasing means comprises helical springs each mounting one of said projections and having axially spaced ends bearing upon said second blade portion and said support, respectively.
 4. In a dryshaver as defined in claim 1, said projections comprising at least two spaced projections, and said slot means comprising at least one slot into which said projections extend.
 5. In a dryshaver as defined in claim 1, said projections having heads which extend into said slot means.
 6. In a dryshaver as defined in claim 1, wherein said projections are of one piece with said support. 